Have you ever wondered, what happens to a dog who eats table scraps? This is a question that lingers in the minds of most dog owners. Although the dogs appear cheerful and it also excites you when you give them part of your food, are you sure that what they are eating is safe? Knowing the consequences of what happens to a dog who eats table scraps will guide you to taking better care of your dog. You will know the right food to give your pet.

Most of the time you give the dog part of your food to satisfy the painful look in their eyes. You feel relieved because you are pampering your dog. In the real sense, you could be hurting it. However, occasional table scraps would not hurt a dog that eats a nutritiously balanced diet.

A Begging Dog Is Not a Good Dog!

When a dog eats table scraps, it develops a habit of coming to the table on a regular basis. It becomes an ill mannered dog. It will expect to find food each time that it comes on the table. This habit will soon annoy you. You will start giving it food so that it goes away. That is when trouble begins. This habit will be difficult to stop. Do not allow your dog to be comfortable under the table waiting for food.

It is not a good practice to feed a dog from the table. Our stomachs are different from theirs. Eating table scraps is not eating a balanced diet. Excessive table scraps may cause canine obesity and poor health. Eating a lot of fatty table scraps increases the risk of pancreatitis.

A dog's stomach is different from ours. Dogs do not react to our food the same way we do. If a smaller dog eats a lot of table scraps, then it is going to have a negative impact on its weight. The food is more than what its stomach can handle. One or two french fries is enough for a dog with a smaller stomach.

Over indulgence in human food by your dog is harmful to your dog. Table scraps can cause serious health issues to your dog. Some of these foods can are poisonous and can cost the life of your dog. The problem becomes worse if you are not sure what the dog ate.

Consequences of What Happens to a Dog Who Eats Table Scraps

Do not give your dog a bowl full of table scraps. The dog will definitely be happy to have a bowl full of leftovers but it may result in serious health issues. Fatty foods are not good for its digestive system. Fatty foods occasionally trigger fatal pancreatic inflammation.

Your garbage should be kept in tightly covered cans. Some dogs look for food that has been thrown away. Garbage cans are dangerous because the dogs not only eat toxic food but also substances that are not food like plastic. Such like substances can cause blockage to your dog's intestines.

This may require surgery to get rid of them.Another problem with garbage cans is that you cannot be sure of what exactly your dog ate and in what quantity. This increases the cost of treatment because you won't be sure what you will be treating.

The Foods Your Dog Can Eat

Eating the wrong type of food can cause health problems to your pooch. The symptoms vary from vomiting, kidney failure or even death. Watch what your dog eats to avoid these problems. When you notice any of these symptoms, seek medical help from your vet immediately.

Dogs can find nutritional benefits in foods like vegetables, pasta rice, and some fruits. Be careful when feeding your dog watermelons or other similar fruits having hard skin and seeds. Boiled beef is also good. Do not give it mutton or chicken. Do not add any fats or oil to the beef while cooking. Just add salt and let it boil. You can then give it to your dog together with rice. The quantity of the food for sensitive stomach depends on the size of the dog. The larger the dog the more the food.

The Foods Your Dog Should not Eat

Most people give toxic foods to their dogs without knowing. Here is a list of some of the foods that your dog should not eat

Bones

Most people have the habit of throwing a bone from their meal to a dog. This is dangerous. If the dog swallows broken pieces of the bone, it could puncture the stomach or intestines and cause adverse effects. Do not give your dog chicken bones. Chicken bones could choke your dog. It could also be fatal. Give your dog bones that are specifically made for dogs.

Chocolate

Avoid giving your dog chocolate. Too much chocolate is bad for us. It is also bad for dogs. It contains caffeine and theobromine which are toxic to animals. The bodies of the animals cannot break them down like ours. Chocolate in any form is dangerous. Chocolate ingestion risk depends on the size of the dog, the smaller the dog the higher the risk. In some cases, one ounce of chocolate can be fatal. It is best to avoid it.

Spoiled Food

As mentioned earlier, spoiled food is mostly found in the garbage. Dogs like hunting the garbage area when left on their own. Make sure that the garbage cans are tightly closed and that the garbage area is restricted so that dogs do not access.

Alcohol

Imagine giving your dog alcohol. The dog will react weirdly and even be dangerous to people. Wipe immediately any alcohol that is spilled on the floor.

Grapes

Grapes also harmful effects to your dog. They are harmful because they can cause acute kidney failure. Always put them away from the reach of your dog.

Conclusion

Generally, table scraps are a bad idea for your dog. As a responsible dog owner, you need to do research on foods that are harmful to your dog. Read more on what happens to a dog who eats table scrap to know the disadvantages. Sign up for free dog health forums to learn more. You can also get information from the Animal Poison Health Control Center. You will find the latest information on dog health.

Every pet owner at one point or the other looks at their cute little fur ball and wonder how big they'll get. We'd all want to keep them cute and little for as long as possible but growth is actually good for any creature. You'd better enjoy their playful nature and innocent puppy eyes stares for now.

They won't always fit in the palm of your hands or purse forever. There will come a time when the furry little guy will be too heavy to even sit on your lap.

Did you know that dogs are the only animals in the planet that come in a wide variety of appearances and sizes? It's true. All other animals, including humans have an estimated weight and size depending on their age and gender. Dogs on the other hand come in a variety of breeds which makes them special little pets.

The growth spurt of your puppy will be determined by its breed. Some pups only grow a few inches in height, weight and length for instance a chihuahua while others grow to large sizes for instance the great Dane. However, you can keep track of your little playful family member depending on its breed.

​1. The Growth Spurt Stage

​There is a general guideline that will help you imagine how big or puffy your puppy will get.

Just like humans, puppies experience noticeable growth especially for the first few weeks after birth then experience a stagnation thereafter. For tiny dog breeds, your little adding to the family will continue growing after birth right until 11 weeks.

For medium dog breeds, your pup will continue growing from birth to 16 weeks. Finally, large to giant dog breeds experience a growth spurt from birth up until 5 months. It is at this point that you will notice your little friend filling up, stabilizing their walks, exploring and becoming social and most importantly, growing in height.

​2. The Stagnation Stage

You will notice your puppy slowing down on growth at a certain age. This is commonly known as the stagnation stage. The growth will significantly slow down when they get to 4-6 months of age especially in medium to large dog breeds. This is when they attain 65% of their adult height.

Do not be alarmed when your little furry friend doesn't grow as fast or as big as your neighbor's dog does. Remember, they are unique and each grows according to its breed.

Only a vet can determine whether your dog is growing up well or not. In case there is a problem, they are in a better position to recommend meal plans and suitable supplements. So, hold your horses if you are considering putting your pup on a special diet.

​Studies show that small to medium dog breed puppies can reach up to 99% of their adult weight between 9-10 months of age. On the other hand, a large breed puppy may take longer to mature. They finally get to this stage of their lives when they are 12 to 18 months of age.

If your pup belongs to mighty dog breeds such as mastiffs, Great Danes, rottweilers, you will experience steady growth spurts up until they are two or even three years. This is necessary for them to achieve their large sizes. Just like any other mighty creature, your puppy will require more time to grow to attain its adult size.

​Did you know that a puppy attains his full height long before he attains his full weight? Now you know. These furry little companions have a lot of surprises to them than they can even fathom. Normally, at 4 months, most dogs will have achieved 60% of their adult height but only 30% of their adult weight.

Your pup will lose their cute chubby appeal and acquire a weird look due to this height to weight ratio. This is especially so for large and giant breeds.

​3. Is There a Way to Know for Sure How Big Puppy Will Get?

Although there are various estimates on puppy growth spurts, none can put a finger on exactly how your puppy will grow in height and weight. However, you can use the guidelines to have a rough idea on whether your puppy is on the right track where growth is concerned or not.

These charts will help you understand just how big your pet will roughly grow to depending on its breed.

An additional benefit to this test is that you can find out hereditary health issues that your pup is susceptible to and take action early enough. With proper nutrition, your dog should be able to grow well without any challenges.

If you are concerned about its growth, seek medical advise as there may be an underlying health issue. Just like a baby, your puppy may encounter discomforts and aches during specific growth stages for instance teething. Invest in toys to ease their discomfort as you would a baby.

Puppies are exciting. If you are new to breeding, or you are eagerly awaiting the birth of a reserved puppy from a breeder’s litter, the wait can seem eternal. Luckily for us (and for the dog), the gestation period in dogs is much shorter than the gestation period in humans. But exactly how long does a dog stay pregnant?

Average gestation

The answer varies depending on several factors, but the average length of gestation, aka pregnancy, lasts between 58 to 67 days, with 63 days being the average delivery date.

Why can there be such a wide time range? Because there are many factors that determine the exact pregnancy length:

1. Dog litter size

​Generally, dogs that are having a small litter (pregnant with only a few babies, 1-2 for example) usually go pregnant for a longer period of times than dogs that are having a large litter (pregnant with a lot of babies, 5-6 for example).

Why so? Well, being pregnant with fewer puppies means that your dog will have more space in its uterus. But, being pregnant with more puppies means less space in your dog’s uterus, which leads to labor sooner because the puppies in your dog’s uterus run out of space much sooner as they grow.

​2. Dog breed size

The size of your dog can play a role in how long they remain pregnant. Generally (although this is not always the case) smaller sized dogs usually remain pregnant for longer periods of time in comparison to larger dogs.

So, larger breeds of dogs might deliver closer to shorter end of the dog pregnancy spectrum (58 days), while smaller breeds of dogs might deliver closer to the longer end of the dog pregnancy spectrum (67 days).

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​3. Family history

Exactly how long dogs stay pregnant seems to run in the family. Even though this is not always do-able, but if you can find out how long your pregnant dog’s mother and grandmother were pregnant (the breeder you got your dog from might be able to help you out with this one if they are professional enough and keep track of such data), chances are that your dog will be pregnant for the same (or an extremely similar) amount of time.

​Signs of dog pregnancy

​Early signs of dog pregnancy include a decreased appetite, a sudden decrease in activity, nipple growth, and behavioral changes. The decreased appetite is similar to a human's morning sickness.

If she feels exhausted more than normal, is far more affectionate than her regular behavior or just wants to be left alone, it is because of the hormonal changes triggered by her pregnancy. The tissue and glands underneath her nipples will swell to make room for her baby's milk. Her pregnancy will last between 60-64 days.

After the first few weeks her appetite will reappear and she will rapidly start gaining weight. Her abdomen will thicken and be firm to the touch. Smaller breeds look larger when pregnant than bigger breeds because they have less room to carry all of their puppies.

You will be able to feel the puppy movement during the last week of her pregnancy because that is when the babies are getting into position for birth. Don't be surprised to see several drops of milk leaking from her nipples prior to the labor.

​What about the embryos?

​Embryos begin to take shape after 32 days, during which the eyelids and the face start to form. By day 35, you can see little puppy toes, and the bones and coat begin to form around the 45-day mark. By day 50, the skeletons are well formed enough that a veterinarian can count the pups with an x-ray.

Around the 60th day, most dogs start looking for a place to nest. If you’re her human, it’s up to you to prepare a place for her to deliver her babies. The place should be clean, comfortable and safe. Most dogs also like their birthing area to be private.

You can be a bit proactive when your dog enters the nesting phase of pregnancy by creating what is known as a whelping box. This is a self-contained area that you can train your dog to use when the time to birth draws near, provided you put it in a secluded place and ensure it’s as comfortable as possible.

In some cases, you can use her traveling case for this purpose - just make sure you have a blanket nearby to give your dog and her brood some post-partum privacy.

​What to feed a pregnant dog

​The diet that you feed future mom is crucial to her health as well as the developing puppies. They require an extremely high-quality diet, but no major changes should be made during the first five weeks of gestation.

At four weeks of pregnancy, you should begin increasing the amount of food that she consumes on a daily basis by at least 25 percent. This is the time where puppies begin to demand more nutrition, and satisfying the demand will ensure that all of them stay healthy and strong.

Contrary to popular belief, you should not incorporate any vitamins or supplements into their diet, especially calcium. Feeding them extra amounts of calcium increases their risk of eclampsia, also known as milk fever, which is a dangerous health issue that is often fatal.

Furthermore, many supplements have the potential to cause a variety of birth defects. Try to keep your pooch away from them during pregnancy unless recommended by veterinarian.

​How to exercise a pregnant dog

​Any woman can tell you that labor is hard work. It’s no different for your dog. Her health and fitness will go a long way in easing the pain of labor. A consistent routine of walking is best; several short walks a day close to home will keep her fit and avoid boredom. The closer to delivery, the shorter the walk should be.

Carefully observe her behavior – if she doesn’t want to go for a walk don’t force her. About 24 hours before birth she may be restless but not want to go far from the whelping box.

Avoid stress as much as reasonably possible. If you know the neighbor walks their dogs at a set time, then change your schedule. Try to avoid other dogs and walking past houses with wild barkers.

If your dam (non-spayed female dog) is a chaser, plan to walk after you see another dog has gone past – they should have gotten all the attractive nuisances out of the way.

​How to deliver puppies successfully

​Watch this video to learn how to deliver puppies successfully:

​In case of emergency

Generally speaking, your dog's body knows what it's doing and most deliveries go without a hitch. Each puppy birth can take up to an hour, after up to 30 minutes of pushing. Mama typically stays calm throughout the ordeal, licking and cleaning each puppy after it's born and resting a bit before the next one arrives.

If she seems to be straining unusually hard with no pup in sight, or she seems in pain or unusually agitated, she may need additional help. Have your vet's phone number on hand as your dog nears the end of her pregnancy and call for help if needed.

​When puppies are considered premature

Most veterinarians agree that day 58 is the earliest date that puppies can safely be born because their lungs are just mature enough by that time for the puppies to have a chance at survival.

Even so, the pups may still be slightly premature. You can usually spot the preemies because their paws are bright pink with very little fur on them. Puppies delivered before day 58 are typically stillborn or die within a day or two of birth.

​

When the pregnancy is overdue

Generally, being almost a week overdue from the average 63 days, is not too uncommon. Dogs are considered seriously late in pregnancy though when they are about 70 days due. At this stage, it's important to see the vet.

The vet can check on the liveliness of the puppies and can help induce labor using oxytocin if he/she determines it's a case of uterine inertia, which is the absence of effective contractions of the dog's uterus during labor. For difficult cases, some dogs may require a C-section.

In some cases, dog owners may start getting worried about their pregnant dog being overdue, only to discover later at the vet's office that their dog is not pregnant at all! This is because, female dogs tend to go through what is called pseudo pregnancy, better known as false pregnancy, which can take place after going into heat and mimics a real pregnancy.

Dogs in false pregnancy may get an enlarged belly, their nipples may enlarge and sometimes they may also start producing milk and even showing signs of nesting and going into labor.

The puppies

In the life of a puppy, the first few weeks can move quite fast. In three weeks, you will want to take the pups to the vet to get de-wormed. You will also want to start them on the process of weaning around the same time. At the six to eight week stage, you can begin looking around for potential new owners for your puppies if you are not really planning to bring them up as your own.

Conclusion

It can be stressful, exhausting, tough and strange to care for a pregnant dog, especially for first-time pregnant-dog owners. It can also be fun, magical and simply amazing. After all, what is better than a brand new litter of the cutest puppies you have ever seen?Use the tips and information above to make the pregnancy process as smooth as possible. Have any questions or comments? Leave them below.

Does your dog eat cat poop? This behavior is disgusting but typical to dogs. The behavior is referred to as coprophagia. The behavior is very hard to train away.The dog's instinct does not tell it that cat poop is a waste.The reasons why dogs eat cat poop are mainly due to a variety of reasons.

Why Do Dogs Eat Cat Poop?

As much as we may not like it, dogs enjoy the taste of cat poop. Sounds disgusting, right? It is a natural habit. Dogs are scavengers. They hunt everything down including cat poop. As much as cat poop smells gross to us, it smells like food to dogs. Here are some reasons explaining why.

1. Medical Reasons

Medical conditions like anemia and malnutrition could be the reason why your dog is eating cat poop. It is, however, a rare cause.The reason why dogs eat cat poop could be triggered by intestinal or pancreatic issues. It could also be because of any kind of medication that the dog is under.

Prescribed drugs can help to stop this ill behavior if the behavior is caused by anxiety. Dogs that have developed a larger appetite because of prescribed drugs could also turn to cat poop.

Even if there is no clear reason for coprophagia, the dog might have picked some parasites like roundworms from the poop. Take the dog to a vet and test it for any internal parasites. If present, begin deworming immediately.

2. Inherited Behaviour

The behavior of eating cat poop could have been passed to your dog genetically. Members of the dog family like wolves are known to scavenge for poop when they cannot find a prey. Anyway, they get some essential vitamins from the poop. Dogs have the same instincts and this could be the reason why they eat cat poop.

When the puppies are young, their mother licks their bladder and bowels to stimulate them. She even eats the waste to keep the environment clean. The dog could possibly have learned this behavior from their mother.

3. Nutritional Deficiency

When a dog eats cat poop, it could be a sign that it is missing some vitamins in its diet. If you think that this is the reason, consult with your vet. You could also give your dog food that is rich in proteins, vitamins, fiber, and protein.

4. Taste

Although it sounds disgusting, maybe your dog likes the test of cat poop. Cat's poop is similar to cat's food. Given a chance a dog will eat any cat's food.

5. Boredom

Dogs could decide to pay the litter box a visit because they are bored. They feel more excited when they visit the litter box. If you think that this is the reason for this behaviour, take it for a walk twice a day or so.

Playing with your dog outside could also serve as a distraction. They will prefer playing to visiting the litter box.

Is Cat Poop Bad For Dogs?

Most dogs that eat cat poop appear fine, but it could possibly be bad for their health. Eating cat poop increases the risk of your dog contracting harmful bacteria and parasites. It is even riskier because some of the bacteria like Salmonella could be transmitted to humans.

Even if your cat does not show signs of parasite infection, it could possibly be infected. In addition, cat poop could possibly be problematic to your dog if it is eaten in large quantities. It can cause blockage in their intestines.

However, most dogs do not eat large quantities of cat poop. Keep an eye on your dog to see if it has any difficulty in pooping. Contact your vet if the dog has any problem with a bowel movement.

The dog won't suffer from any major health problems from eating your poop. However, for the sake of your health and that of your dog, this is a habit that needs to be stopped.

Preventing Your Dog From Eating Cat Poop

To stop the possible health problems discussed above, it is important to learn the preventive measures to take to prevent the dog from eating cat poop. The first step is putting the litter box away from its reach. You could place it on top of a shelf etc.

Alternatively, you could place it in a room that has a door too small for your dog to fit. Try using baby gates. They help in giving the cats a room for their own.

Another alternative is using a litter box that has a closed top. It will make it difficult for the dog to get in. However, some dogs are determined and will find a way of getting in. The safest option is to keep the litter box in a place that they cannot reach.

Training your dog not to move close to the litter box is a difficult task. It is better to scoop the poop immediately the cat has pooped. This could be difficult because cats do not poop at the same time. You can't time it unless it is super natural.

The situation could be worse if the cat poop is out of your control. Sometimes, the neighbor's cats poop in your yard. It isn't much you can do to prevent it from eating. it is advised to take your dog to the veterinarian on a regular basis for deworming.

Some pet stores sell products that can be mixed with cat food to make the feces disgusting.Your dog wouldn't like it. An easier method is to try sprinkling chilly or pepper in the litter box to keep the dog away.

Wrap- up

Dogs eating cat poop is not a new phenomenon. However, eating cat poop is disgusting. This does not mean that your dog has a problem.To keep everyone safe and healthy, try as much as possible to keep the dog away from the litter box. It helps to prevent any major health concerns.

As explained earlier, the dog could be having some sort of deficiency. Give your dog a balanced diet to prevent the many visits to your vet. Share this with friends on the different social media platforms. You can also add your comment here.

Many dogs have a tendency to eat a lot of peculiar things that, for the most of us, have neither rhyme nor reason. However peculiar your dog's eating propensities might be, remember this is moderately ordinary conduct, especially for puppies. Be it an ordinary act or not, chewing rocks (or other non-foodies things) can be risky if ingested, can cause indigestion or bloat in the stomach. This implies that finding the root cause is a necessity to any dog owner.

​The Root of The Matter

​To begin with, chewing rocks is unsafe to a dog's mouth and teeth. Sharp edges can cut fragile gums and tongues, and crunching down can break teeth.

Moreover, chewing rocks can prompt retching, looseness of the bowels, intestinal blockage, and notwithstanding stifling if the rock is too extensive for the dog's throat.

As basic as rock chewing may be, it can be because of different reasons going from medical to just fun. Here we take a look at some of the reasons generally, read on to get knowledgeable.

​1. To seek attention.

​Chewing rocks is one route for a scorned pooch to get take note. For this situation, your dog might be carrying on of tension, frustration, or insignificant weariness.

If your dog is desolate and feels ignored and disregarded, he may begin chewing and gulping improper things as a method of getting you to just notice him.

Whether you surge over to him with concern or immovably say "no" to him as you look at him straight without flinching, his pica may simply be a sob for help - and camaraderie

​2. Medical issues.

It's additionally conceivable that a dog eats rocks because of a hidden medical condition. These can incorporate intestinal tract disorders, healthful lack, diabetes, or other diseases.

It is indispensable to preclude any medical cause by visiting your vet if preceded with endeavors to stop this conduct is unsuccessful.

3. Sheer weariness and mineral insufficiency

Some trust that dogs eat rocks out kind of mineral inadequacy, for example, an absence of iron. So to compensate for it, your dog goes straight to the source to attempt and offset its own framework.

It's stunning what dogs know even without a solitary day of science class. An underhanded little dog may likewise swing to eating rocks out of fatigue. If your dog is exhausted, then it's dependent upon you to change that unpalatable reality for him.

Whether you play bring with him all the more frequently, take him on broadened strolls around the recreation center consistently or get some energizing and intelligent new ball toys for him, keep your pooch's psyche and body moving.

4. Frustration and Stress

Frustration and stress can likewise urge a dog to carry on in habitual ways. If you keep your pup secured up a little case throughout the day while you're grinding away, he may let his repressed frustration out by eating rocks while he really is wandering aimlessly in your yard.

If your dog has a wellspring of significant stress in his life, he likewise may swing to pica. Maybe another greater household dog is tormenting him, and he's at lost what to do. Tension is a noteworthy wellspring of impulsive and odd practices in creatures.

​5. It may have a condition called pica.

This is a psychological wellness issue that causes people or creatures to impulsively eat non-nourishment things. Homeopathy, pressure point massage, needle therapy, and herbs have helped a few dogs who experience the ill effects of pica. Your vet should analyze this issue and can give you tips on managing it

6. Your dog might be suffering from bloat.

This is a genuine ailment and dogs can kick the bucket from it if it's not treated. It may be bloat if your dog's stomach is hard and tight. Go to the vet quickly.

7. Intestinal tract disorder

It could have a disorder of the intestinal tract. A vet can look at to discover if this is the situation

8. Diabetes mellitus

One of the reasons why your dog might be chewing rocks is that it might be having diabetes mellitus. This can likewise be tried for at the vet.

9. Smell and taste

They may be smelling or tasting great. Perhaps the chewing sensation is exceptionally pleasant. I've had two puppies that ate both. It seems truly imbecilic and a few trees are harmful.

I stroll over rapidly and "exchange" them the thing for a treat. That appears to work the best. I don't need the cost of an entrails impediment from the vet.

10. Fun

They want to chew wood. Their teeth sink appropriate in. Now and again it's fun; here and there it encourages them to quiet down

Treating the Cause

Chewing rocks might be simply quite recently your pooch's approach to vent his chewing needs. If you speculate this is the situation, attempt the accompanying strides to check his rock propensity:

1. Limit his entrance to the rocks. Here and there it's quite recently difficult to stay away from rocks altogether, but endeavor to direct your dog when they're around.

2. When you discover your dog eating rocks, divert him from the rocks and divert his attention to something safe or fun, such as playing bring or chewing a protected toy.

3. Check your own particular timetable. Is your dog taken off alone a great part of the time? Maybe, you should simply to invest more energy with him.

4. Keep several chew toys close by, and keep changing them frequently to keep him intrigued.

Last note

If rock chewing is because of a medical issue rather than behavioral, your veterinarian will have the capacity to make an analysis and make a treatment design. While basic medical issues are dealt with, the rock chewing should end alone.

To take care of this issue ensure that you're encouraging your pup great dog sustenance that has a lot of supplements and vitamins to keep him or her up and running. If you find that your dog is just exhausted, get her a toy now and again to help keep her occupied.

If your dog keeps on eating rocks or soil, contact your neighborhood vet and have him or her to investigate your dog to set it back on track. Hope this article was helpful to you

​

As a long time dog owner, I have over the years closely witnessed and understood how important dietary regime is for the overall health and well being of our beloved pets. I have struggled with both overweight and underweight dogs and strove to find the ideal dietary regimen that would help our dogs attain a healthy musculature and weight.

As a matter of fact, one of our current dogs was worryingly underweight for the first two years despite all our efforts. In the end, it became blindingly obvious to us that feeding indiscriminately was simply not going to get our dogs reach a healthy weight. The diet also has to be balanced.

But over and above the dietary considerations, I understood that there are other extraneous factors that need to be taken into account such as physical activity, the environment, adequate sleep etc to ensure your pet stays in peak health and fitness.

On the other hand, I also see so many first-time dog owners worrying about their underweight dog. In this tutorial, therefore, I have tried to squeeze the lessons I have learned over the years on how to fatten up a dog. Read on!

Who's this tutorial for and what do you need?

This tutorial is meant for all dog owners who are struggling with emaciated pets. This tutorial requires no fancy or expensive foods and kibble beyond what is normally available in our households and pet stores. However, in order to accomplish the weight gain goals, the tutorial would expect the following two qualities from you as a dog owner:

1) Adequate time: Your underweight pet needs you to take sufficient time from your schedule and see to it that he gets enough exercise and sleep.

2) Patience: There are a number of reasons for your dog is underweight, not all of it attributable to diet. You need to show patience and understand what precisely is bothering the pet. Over time, you would need to experiment so that you have a good idea of what kind of food is appetizing for your dog. In addition, you may also have to experiment with feeding schedules.

Fattening up the dog in 6 easy steps

1. Ensure your dog is not sick

Unlike humans, dogs are not capable of clearly communicating their needs and wants. As pet owners, therefore, it is incumbent upon us to make sure we look out for signs of illness in our pets. A sudden loss of appetite in your dog, and the accompanying loss of weight is probably one of the clearest signal that all is not well with your dog.

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The best course of action is such cases is to make a trip to the vet and have the pet thoroughly looked after. In a large number of cases, bringing your pet back to health by administering medicines can bring back his lost appetite.

2. Alter your pet's eating schedule

Typically, pet owners stick to a routine feeding schedule. However, if you are struggling with an underweight pooch, it is time to tinker with that schedule. Instead of one or two meals a day, try splitting it into multiple smaller meals every few hours.

Splitting the meal into smaller portions helps in two distinct ways. Firstly, your dog would get his nutrients and energy at regular intervals, keeping him energetic through the day. Secondly, the dog would normally clean up with the whole meal with no leftovers.

3. Check the nutritional profile of food offered to dogs

The basic concept of metabolism is the same as both humans and dogs. In other words, if your dog is expending more calories than he is receiving then it's natural that he would lose weight over time. In such cases, you should check the nutritional profile of the pet food you buy, and calculate if the amount of food offered to the pet provides him with enough calories.

As a rule of thumb, you should check if the store bought pet food offers a balanced diet to your dog with adequate proteins and fats. It is a sad fact that many pet foods in the market use low-grade ingredients making them unsuitable for ideal growth of your dogs. As a dog owner, be diligent and ensure your dog gets sufficient amounts of high-quality protein.

4. Be creative with your dog's treats

Instead of mindlessly offering random store bought treats to your dog, it's time to get creative and offer him wholesome treats. For example, peanut butter is not only an excellent source of protein but also something that dogs enjoy a lot.

Scooping up a spoonful of peanut butter would ensure plenty of nutrition besides tickling the appetite of your dog in the right way. Even better, smear a spoonful of peanut butter of a piece of vegetable like a carrot to make for a wholesome and healthy treat.

5. Ensure your dog gets proper workout

Lack of proper exercise is one of the biggest factors in making a dog slow, unresponsive, unhealthy, and underweight. Without adequate exercise, the metabolism rate and energy levels of your dog experience a sharp decline. Over a period of time, this results in muscle loss, a host of illnesses, lack of appetite, and, of course, loss of weight.

Make sure that your dog gets enough time to play and run and expend the excess energy throughout the day. Daily exercise means that your dog maintains a healthy appetite and enjoys his balanced diet.

6. Be patient with your dog

Many times, especially during or after a bout of illness, your dog would experience a lack of appetite and wouldn't eat whatever you present before him. In such cases, as an owner, I learned that it's best to show a lot of patience with the dog and never get angry. Losing your temper with your dog stresses your pet causing him to lose appetite even more. In such cases, gently encourage your dog and praise him.

Conclusion

I hope that the above tutorial would be of some help to all those pet owners worried and struggling with their underweight pets. The most important thing I learned over the years was that dogs have their personality, and you really have to spend time with them to understand their likes in terms of treats and feeding preferences etc.

Knowing your dog is also important as you can then read signs of illness and stress, and have them immediately looked after by a vet. The list of steps I have written above helped me not only get my underweight dog to optimal health but also ensure I do not experience it with my other dogs. If you have additional suggestions then do let me know via the comments section below.